People's Defense Forces Press Office (HPG-BIM) has released the balance sheet of war in North and South Kurdistan for the year of 2015, which has been translated by ANF English service below.

HPG recalled that the Kurdish Freedom Movement did its part and fulfilled its responsibility for the progression of the process initiated by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan with a historic declaration on 21 March 2013 which aimed democratization of Turkey, resolution of the Kurdish question and attainment of a peaceful term in the Middle East on the basis of the Democratic Nation perspective. On the other hand -HPG noted- the AKP government took no single step that served the process, and started preparations for an extensive war on the basis of the Internal Security Act.

“As part of the preparations for war, the government has incited a war by conducting 263 artillery attacks only at borderlines from the beginning of the process till June of 2015. With the airstrikes in Ağrı's Diyadin district on 11 April and Hakkari's Oramar area on 30 June, the Turkish government broke the truce that our Movement endured under challenging circumstances. Yet, our Movement continued to sustain the cease-fire unilaterally. Following the beginning of an all-out annihilation process with the most expansive airstrikes of recent years on 24-25 July, our Movement started an overall struggle of resistance.”

'GUERRILLA DEFEATED THE AKP FASCISM IN KURDISTAN'

Remarking that the Turkish state has mobilized most advanced military equipment in its war against guerrilla areas in Medya Defense Zones, HPG said these intense aerial strikes were soon later accompanied by ground operations. "In response to the all-out war concept, guerrillas retaliated to the attacks with effective reprisal actions, stepped up the resistance and defeated Erdoğan and AKP fascism in Kurdistan."

Noting that the Turkish army went into an effort to hide the results of this conflict and casualties inflicted on its troops in Oremar, Geliye Doski and Beytüşşebap, HPG said occupant Turkish forces were forced to retreat from these areas upon a failure to make an advance in the operations against guerrilla areas.

'WE HAVE REACHED A CRITICAL TURNING POINT'

Putting emphasis on the imposition of an aggravated isolation on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan as of early 2015, HPG said the followings; "After exposure of the all-out war concept with the attacks on guerrilla forces on 24 July, Erdoğan and AKP government denied the democratic will of peoples and initiated a new concept within its annihilation policy. The plan was both to finish the guerrilla and eliminate the ground for democratic politics in Turkey. Taking precautions against this dirty and hypocritical policy and occupation plan, our Freedom Movement helped the free will of Kurdistan people attain status and representation through the declarations of self-rule. On this basis, the self-rule resistance of Kurdistan youth has spread to many towns and cities. It is pretty clear that Kurdistan Freedom Struggle has today reached a significant turning point in its revolutionary fight by mounting historic resistance against Turkish colonialism in mountains, lowlands and cities."

BALANCE SHEET OF THE WAR WITH THE TURKISH ARMY

Offensives and operations by the Turkish army;

Ground operations: 321

Strikes by warplanes: 362

Strikes by cobra helicopters: 103

Mortar, howitzer, tank and artillery attacks: 1514

Aerial activities by warplanes: 455

Reconnaissance flights: 1082

ACTIONS BY HPG/YJA-STAR GUERRILLAS IN RESPONSE

Actions by guerrillas: 757

Actions with unverified results: 110

Road Control Actions: 135

Clashes caused by ground operations: 75

RESULTS OF ACTIONS

Soldiers killed in actions and clashes: 1250

Police killed: 132

Special operation members killed: 162

High-ranking officers killed (Colonel - Lieutenant Colonel): 13

Soldiers wounded: 398

Police wounded: 86

Special operation members wounded: 60

Armored vehicles destroyed and burned: 132

Cobra helicopters downed: 3

Drones downed: 3

Guerrillas martyred: 220 (in clashes, actions and airstrikes)

BALANCE SHEET OF THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS

Remarking that another significant struggle has been waged by Kurdistan Freedom Movement against ISIS savagery in Shengal and South Kurdistan throughout 2015, HPG said; "The savage aggression on Shengal in the wake of the occupation offensive on 3 August 2014, which left over 3 thousand people massacred, over 15 thousand captive and 460 thousand displaced, was ended with victory- liberation of Shengal- on 13 November 2015 owing to the self-sacrificing, committed and organised resistance of HPG forces."

The statement noted that the wave of attacks by ISIS gangs on South Kurdistan's Kirkuk city and surroundings of Makhmur town was also broken to a significant extent during 2015.

Pointing out that gangs have been inflicted heavy blows as a result of joint operations and offensives by guerrillas together with local forces, and peshmerga units from time to time, HPG said; "These offensives resulted in the liberation of Kirkuk's surroundings, Dakok town and a number of villages and hamlets. The plans of murderous ISIS gangs were frustrated by the great resistance waged in this region."

HPG provided the following figures for 2015 regarding the fight against ISIS in South Kurdistan territory;

Gang members killed in Shengal and Kirkuk: 2736

Gang members wounded: 804

ISIS vehicles destroyed: 147

Munitions seized: 492 weapons and large quantity of ammunition

41 guerrillas fell martyr during the heroic resistance for the liberation of Shengal.

HPG ended its statement by promising to achieve the goal of freedom inherited to them by the martyrs and people, and vowed to remain loyal to the memory of their comrades who fought and died for their cause.